Small business The Polka Dot Press honored as Florida ...

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Print??|?Tallahassee, FL, May 25, 2012 ? As groups around the state commemorate National Small Business Week, the Florida Retail Federation (FRF) announced today that it is honoring The Polka Dot Press and its owner, Kim Williams of Tallahassee, with the trade association?s Outstanding Retail Leader Award.

The Polka Dot Press ? a seven-year-old business selling custom stationery ? was selected this month as the 2^nd place finisher in the ?This is Retail? video contest sponsored by the National Retail Federation. The business won $15,000 in the hotly contested national video contest for retailers, largely on the strength of online voting pushed by strong community support.

Every year, FRF presents the Outstanding Retail Leader Award to a select group of small businesses that demonstrate the creativity and competitive drive that exemplifies great retailers. Recipients of the Outstanding Retail Leader Award are typically picked by a panel of judges from among the finalists for the FRF Retailer of the Year Award, which is to be presented on June 21 in Orlando. Ms. Williams is one of only four individuals receiving the Outstanding Retail Leader Award this year.

?The Florida Retail Federation is very proud to recognize Kim Williams and The Polka Dot Press for representing the state of Florida and all our small business owners,? said Rick McAllister, president and CEO of FRF. ?About 90 percent of all our retailers are small businesses like The Polka Dot Press, and they are truly the heart and soul of the retail industry. Their energy and passion are what drive job creation in Florida.?

Kim Williams is an entrepreneur who began her custom stationery business in her home seven years ago. After receiving a tremendous response from local customers and online sales, in 2011 she opened a storefront in Tallahassee?s Market District. The Polka Dot Press team now has seven employees and a college intern.

The Florida Retail Federation is the statewide trade association representing Florida?s second largest employment industry. Florida retailers pay more than $49 billion in wages annually, provide one out of every five jobs in the state, and collect and remit more than $20 billion in sales and retail-related taxes for Florida?s government each year.

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